Chuck Close: Facebook by Chuck Close

How underrated is the human face? The map and testament of the conditions and experiences that someone has weathered. Those wrinkles there on her face speak on behalf of the constant and monotone rigor she has put up with to clothe her lifestyle. Those laugh lines scream and laugh as they recount all the wonderful times spent smiling under shaded parks. That gaze, situated under two furrowed brows, longs for something dropped on the path to the present. Is a face the communicator of its own language? Chuck Close might say, “yes”.

                                                                                            “Chuck Close: Facebook” is a small book that has Chuck Close answering questions addressed to him by young middle schoolers. Some of the questions asked are, “Why do you only paint faces?”, “Why doesn't anyone in your art smile?” and “How do you make your pictures loo so real?”. The book begins by explaining who Close is, a widely known modern artist whose subject matter is the human face. Close rose to fame by painting photorealist portraits of human faces, all in huge scaled canvases. The book does not have a very distinct plot, instead it presents information in question and answer format. Questions are presented to Close and he answers them while giving information about his trade. In the book, Close does delve into a personal narrative, although it is a very brief one. The book also has a very interesting interactive feature. The first couple of pages in the book contain smaller versions of some of Close's paintings separated into three horizontal pieces. Readers are then able to switch these paintings around to create new views and to see how all of Close's self portraits seem to blend together.

One of the strengths of this book is that it contains some of the works of the subject. While the text in the book has Close explaining the features of his work, there are many paintings of his that add depth to his responses. The interactive element of the book that was mentioned earlier is also a great use of illustration. These paintings are displayed with no text and as such this enhances their presentation. Another strength of the book is the Question and Answer format of presenting information. This format allows the reader (presumably one between the ages of 8-12) to really identify with the text. The questions themselves are worded in a way that they mirror the thought process of someone that age. This allows the reader to form a connection with the information being presented. Yet another strength of the book is the fact that is could easily be implemented as a one day lesson in a middle school art class. Because it is rather short and straightforward, this book could be implemented as an introduction to either Chuck Close, painting, photo-realism, or even perseverance. The book lends itself to be implemented in a variety of ways. One weakness of the book is that it does not provide a very in depth biography of Close's life. The book merely provides the reader with a timeline of events in Chuck's life. The book is more focused on providing the reader with answers to Close's art but it might be helpful to students to have access to a more in depth biography.

This book would be a text that preteens should be exposed to. The text provides students into the art world, an asset in a student's education that often goes ignored. The book creates a relationship with the reader and it efficiently explores the characteristics of Chuck Close's art. The book also gives a subtle lesson on perseverance. It is mentioned in the book that close is a paraplegic but that he still does what he loves and has become successful doing so. This message will not be lost on a young reader. It is books like these with the undertones of perseverance that might positively impact a student's learning experience.